Silchar: A committee organised a dharna outside Silchar railway station on Monday, demanding early implementation of Lanka-Moinarband alternative railway line.Silchar-Lumding Broad Gauge Rupayan Sangram Committee said the line via Chandranathpur was essential to connect Barak Valley, Tripura, Mizoram and parts of Manipur, which depend on the vulnerable Lumding-New Haflong-Badarpur hill section.The committee alleged that Railway Protection Force personnel initially tried to stop the demonstration near Bhasha Shahid Memorial, but it continued.The hill section faces landslides, track subsidence and monsoon-related disruptions. This monsoon, severe track settlement near New Harangajao affected train operations.Railway Board sanctioned a final location survey for a broad-gauge line from Lanka to Silchar via Chandranathpur, later taken forward as Lanka-Moinarband new line.In a written Rajya Sabha reply in Aug 2025, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the survey for preparing the detailed project report was sanctioned and the 147-km alignment surveyed. It passes through West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Cachar.The committee alleged the project was stalled at the survey and planning stage. Another demonstration is planned outside railway area manager’s office on Sept 10, when a memorandum will be submitted to railway minister.
